Racine celebrated a milestone with the ribbon cutting of MALTWORKS, a groundbreaking business incubator and studio space located in the heart of Belle City Square. This innovative space offers flexible options for small businesses, artists, and creators, including shared offices and meeting room subscriptions.
In 2018, after a full kitchen renovation, Spanky’s began serving their now-famous thin-crust pizza, which, along with other homemade favorites, helped cement their reputation as a neighborhood staple. By 2020, the Allens purchased the property they had been leasing, but demand soon outgrew the space. With carryout orders booming and long wait times becoming common, a larger facility became essential to meet growing demand and streamline operations.
The Greater Racine County (GRC) initiative is dedicated to showcasing the abundant opportunities available for individuals, families, workers, and employers looking to establish roots in Racine County. Through strong community partnerships with municipalities, businesses, educational institutions, civic organizations, and the Racine Community Foundation, GRC promotes the region’s many advantages.
RCEDC’s Business Growth Solutions event brought Racine County’s entrepreneurial spirit to life, drawing over 50 business owners, lenders, and community members for a celebration of local success.
Major employers such as Amazon, Uline, Haribo, Microsoft, and Eli Lilly are expanding across Racine County and Southeast Wisconsin, creating thousands of new jobs. This rapid growth has put pressure on the housing market, prompting economic development leaders to focus on residential needs alongside traditional commercial development. At the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Racine/Kenosha Growth Summit on Oct. 22, RCEDC’s Executive Director, Jenny Trick, noted that Racine County has added roughly 5,000 multifamily units since 2018.
Nine Racine County entrepreneurs celebrated their graduation from the BizStarts Racine program on October 9, 2025, at Gateway Technical College’s iMET Center—marking the completion of another successful cohort. Presented by RCEDC in partnership with the BizStarts Institute, this year-long program supports aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into sustainable businesses.
With new construction housing in short supply, nearly any viable location in Racine County is suitable for residential development, particularly areas near I-94, such as Mount Pleasant, which offer proximity to employers and amenities. Stakeholders could also consider creating master-planned communities with varied housing, scenic landscaping, trails, parks, and open spaces.
Join Joe Hamman, Executive Director of the Connected Systems Institute (CSI), to explore AI’s role in manufacturing. CSI, a UW-Milwaukee consortium, drives workforce development and economic growth, with the new Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab accelerating AI solutions in manufacturing.
The owner of Lavagio Express Laundry has over 20 years of experience that turned an entrepreneurial vision into reality with the opening of this modern laundromat in Mount Pleasant, WI.
Join us for an insightful discussion on the vital connection between accessibility, transportation, and talent retention. Featuring Trevor Jung, the Transit & Mobility Director for the City of Racine, alongside Valerie Hoff from Commute with Enterprise, this event will explore innovative transportation solutions that can help organizations attract and retain top talent.